Hello, Beautiful

It's my nature to always try to look on the bright side. I always try to find the up to a down. 

I'm also a Canadian, born and bred. So it's also in my nature to survive. (Though, I'm sure it helps that I'm a Cappricorn; we're known for being stubborn.)

It's winter time in Canada, in case you hadn't heard. We go through this every year. But even still, every year, people seem to be shocked and surprised by winter's arrival with traffic accidents left, right and center, poor clothing choices and negative attitudes. 

Well, personally, I'm tired of it! If you don't like snow and cold, you're in the wrong country. 

Snow is pretty. It has a way of making everything look pretty and dressed up. It gives you the chance to view something from a different angle; in a different light. 

Sure, winter means cold, but I promise you it isn't that bad if you DRESS FOR IT. It's called layers. As I've said before, I am a practical girl and I don't care how funny I may look to you, as long as I'm warm. And I'd rather be too warm than cold at all. 

Once you're dressed, you're ready to properly enjoy winter, instead of being a sourpuss. 

I believe that if you can't change it, embrace it (in most cases). And this is why I embrace winter: 

*happy puppy who loves to run through snow
*snow angels
*snow people
*snowball fights
*snow forts
*sledding
*skating
*snowboarding or skiing for those who know how.. 
*awesome winter attire
*having snowflakes land on my tongue and tickle my face
*snowcones
*Christmas light decorations/displays
*running and sliding across icy sidewalks in shoes/boots
*great workout just shoveling my driveway (for the car that I don't have, mind you)
*the cold seems to keep people away from my scheduled yoga classes and gym, which keeps me relaxed and gets me out faster!
*after said class/workout, the cool air feels THAT much more refreshing! 
*the obvious Christmas/birthday season for me


Christmas is a whole 'nother entry on it's own. I hate people who have nothing better to d0 than to complain about stuff. Christmas is not all commercialized. It's only as bad as you make it. Money makes the world go 'round and if your family having a Christmas dinner depended on you making sales at work.. Well, you bet your ass you'd be out there trying to cash in on the "giving season".


Sure, malls suck, paying for stuff sucks, feeling guilty because you have to/should/can't afford gifts for everyone you know. But you know what? Christmas isn't about spending money that you may or may not have, unless you make it about that. Remember that there is always someone worse off than you. For years now, I have volunteered to "adopt a family" for Christmas, where you put together gifts for families who cannot afford it. And it feels great to be able to do that! But imagine how they would feel without organizations, donations, charities, volunteers, etc.

Christmas to me has always been a magical time. I can still remember feeling completely at peace and completely content lying under my tree, staring up into the blinking lights and sparkling ornaments, at five years old.


Christmas has always been a time of giving and helping others less fortunate than you. It's about spending time with one another. And for me, it's also my birthday. A time that is typically filled with family, stories, gifts and sugar. But ya know what? Because my birthday is after Christmas and before New Years, I've never had a birthday party, but I don't complain. It's a fact, but I don't complain. I broke up with a long time boyfriend on Christmas DAY, but I don't complain. It hasn't hardened me. 

Even though my birthday is supposed to be a day about me, doing fun things I want to do, surrounded by people I want to be surrounded with.. I'll still make it about other people. I'll ask them what they want to do or what time works for them. I know none of them are prepared for winter or like winter like I do, so I know that no matter how much I want to go out and have a snowball fight or go sledding or anything outside, someone will complain and some might not join at all. In which case, I would scrap the idea altogether. My problem is, I care too much and always want to make sure everyone around me is happy. All my life I have thought of others before myself. Even on my day. 

So to me? Winter is a gift and I will enjoy it. With or without you! It is my time to embrace the beauty of mother nature and be a goof in a field full of snow, alone with my puppy, as I look up to the sky with a smile and thank 'god' that I'm alive to witness it and enjoy this moment.. And that is my happy place. True story.

Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head..

..Or is it snowflakes? Nope, definitely snowflakes. I am Canadian, yes siree. I love this time of year. 

Well, okay, not the transitional period, but I love the first snowfall. And the last. Which, around here, seems to be around 7-9mths away.. We sort of.. skip over spring and leap right into summer-like temperatures and then get a couple last good dumpings of snow before it's officially over.  Easily going into May/June.

My dog loves snow. And I love watching her love snow. Sometimes it even makes me forget if I'm cold because I'm so busy laughing at her and enjoying watching my happy puppy. 

I hate when people complain about the cold. However, you ever notice those people are usually female? Females who prefer to dress not-weather-appropriate? More often than not, it will be teenagers to late-twenty-somethings still so concerned with fashion and looks, but it's always annoying to hear. Especially during rush hour, on the way home from work or the gym. I like to read on the bus, so shush! 

If you don't like snow, get out of Canada. If you're going to live in Canada, you have to be prepared to dress warmly. You can't always dress like a slut.

Nowadays, there are a lot of fashionable winter clothing, anyways. Not that I'm into that. I'm one of your practical type of girls. I don't really care how ridiculous or "puffy" I may look, as long as I'm warm. I used to be concerned about the "puffy" when I was in school. I had a jacket that was at least three sizes to big for me in elementary, but it sure kept me warm. Now? Now I have awesome snowboarding pants [though, I've yet to learn how to snowboard..] that I can't wait to wear each year and romp around in the snow with my puppy. 

I dislike the in-between seasons where it's cold enough in the morning for warm shoes and two pairs of pants, but warm enough in the afternoon for just a jacket. I'd rather just skip right to the snowpants and mittens! My chance will come tomorow, so I'm told..! I shall be waking up to a winter wonderland tomorrow! Perhaps I'll see you out there? I'll be the one running around like a goof, throwing snow at her puppy. *Wink* 

Birds of a Feather

I'm so indecisive. I always have been. It boils down to feeling anxious. The pressure! The pressure! It's like favorites. I don't have many. I'll have a bunch of "top fives" or "top tens", but very few "number ones". So when I was decorating my blog, omigosh! The choices! Black? White? Pattern? Place? Birds? Photographs? What speaks to me the most? 

Originally, I had a bunch of blurred lights. Looked kind of like spotlights, gave the blog a kewl sort of vibe.  But, when I looked at it, it didn't really say 'me'. So, I changed it to birds. Birds speak to me. Birds can fly! (This just in!) I have lots of dreams about flying; I have always had a large desire to be free. Of what? I'm not sure. (And obviously, if I was a superhero, I would be able to fly.) But, I've always wanted to have that feeling and I sometimes sit at work and look out my ninth floor window and watch birds chasing each other from rooftop to rooftop. And I think, "wow.. that would be fun."

Perhaps, in another life, I was a bird.. 

You ever notice that birds of a different feather never flock together? I guess there's a reason for that cliche.. 

Magpie's never hang out with crows. Crows are mean. Half the time crows are telling magpies and other birds where to go. Meanies. 

I don't like meanness. But I guess the world wouldn't go 'round without the good and the bad. 

Now, of course there's always the chance that I'll change my background as time goes on.. I also have a tendancy to get bored and like change. Maybe they'll get new backgrounds that speak louder to me.. Something for you to stay tuned for!

One Firsh, Two Fish, Red Fish..Dog.

The very first book I read on my own was by Dr. Seuss. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Perhaps you've heard of it. It's a great book. Have you read it? You should.

Seriously. Go.  <-- I'll even help you.

The best supervisor I ever had had a poster in her office space. It said "Everything I need to know, I learned in Kindergarten." The older I get, the more I realize how true that is. The basics life lessons were learned before the age of 6..

-- Share with others

-- Say "Please" and "Thank-you"

-- Wash your hands

-- Hold hands

-- Everything is born and everything dies

I think there should be a manners test and a culture seminar that all new immigrants take before being allowed into my country. I'm sorry, but when you think my dog is "terrorizing your children", when all she's doing is going to give a kiss and see what you're doing and then you attempt to hit her with an object AND THEN proceed to email the landlord and "tattle" trying to get us evicted by exacerbating the truth and completely concocting other fictitious stories?! No. Not happening. You can kiss my white naked ass. Thank you Eminem. (You may not like him, either, but his "angry" music was an outlet for me and got me through some pretty tough days as a kid.) 

If there was any doubt in my mind that my dog would harm someone or if I thought there was a chance she might bite someone, she wouldn't be offleash (to walk from my front door to the car, might I add..). But when you live right beside me and choose to walk outside of your attached garage to your front door with groceries, instead of taking them through the door in the garage.. You might run into your neighbor with whom you share less than 10ft across of greenspace.

Secret Daughter is the title of the latest edition to my "bookshelf". Aka, stack of boxes full of books. It's a really good book. Took me a while to get into it, but once I was there, I couldn't put it down. Basically, it's about an Indian family and a Californian family. The Indian family has a daughter and she is killed upon birth because she is a she and that's what they do. They have another daughter and the mother rushes her off to an orphanage before she can be killed and the Californian family adopts her. The child grows up and gets a chance to go back to where she was born and attempts to find her parents.. The book discusses what "family" actually is and the differences between worlds on the same planet. I quite enjoyed it. 

My next slash current book? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Yes, I joined the clan of other bus bums carrying the series..

First Musing

When I was little, I had diaries. With locks. No one was allowed to read my thoughts. No one.

Times have changed. Everything is online and everyone has a separate [sometimes secret] online life. 

I used to have a blog, but it fell to pieces as I found my place in life and became a working girl. It was more of a place for me to vent. My goal for this blog? To record, to remember and to connect. 

I'm about to embark on the biggest adventure of my life. I've been dreaming about it for more than ten years and I can't believe that it's less than 11 weeks until I'll be in the Land DownUnder. 

It was important for people to follow my adventures and to stay in touch one way or another. Hopefully this will also aid in people getting to know me better. In a place that is free from judgement.

Why Bus Bum? Well, because I don't have a nickname, but if there are three things that everyone knows about me, the fact that I do not drive is probably one of them. By choice, partially. But, there you have it. 

Seventy-five days and counting.. And so marks the first Musings of a Bus Bum.